Thow humble, and heigh over every creature,
Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature,
That no desdeyn the Makere hadde of kynde
His Sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Second Nun’s Prologue. In her prayer to Mary, Mother of God, the Second Nun says that the Blessed Virgin so enobled the human race that God chose to send his son in human form to save mankind.